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Old 04-12-2013, 04:07 AM   #1
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Default I am soooo confused!

Window rattling thunderstorms here this morning.... the thunder is scaring me! But my two thunder-fearers are acting very good... no panting, no shaking, etc. What is up with that?

My theory... I bought a Thundershirt. Neither of them have it on now, but they have worn it before on separate occasions, and their storm anxiety was much improved. But I also feel different, more settled, not worried.... bc if they do get bad, I can put the TS on one of them. So I wonder if it isn't my being relaxed and calm, and confident knowing I have another option to help them, that is really doing this. Just a thought... SMH... and keeping the Thundershirt! Thanks, Kristen and Sarah!
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Old 04-12-2013, 04:18 AM   #2
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probably you are correct!! amazing how that works isnt it. so glad you have back up and feel calmer. we had ice storms here this morning.. back to 29 degrees mother nature is confused i think.
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Old 04-12-2013, 05:48 AM   #3
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I bought one for my little girl York after our first long car trip when she fussed all the way (7 hours). It works like a little charm. And I think she feels special, compared to her older brother who doesn't get to wear a fancy "jacket". LOL. Whatever works. I think the TS is a godsend.
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Old 04-12-2013, 06:49 AM   #4
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What is a thunder shirt? if you don't mind me asking
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Old 04-12-2013, 07:26 AM   #5
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Probably so, kjc. It's amazing how they pick up on our state of mind and mirror that. And having the backup plan is enough reason to relax.

I once got caught out driving in a really nasty hailstorm and had Lexie with me. I just pulled under a big pine tree and waited it out. Lexie kept looking at me trying decide whether or not to freak out, but since i wasn't, she was like "no big deal".
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Old 04-12-2013, 07:28 AM   #6
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What is a thunder shirt? if you don't mind me asking
Thundershirt is a compression-type garment that helps ease anxiety. Thundershirt For Dog Anxiety | Thundershirt.com
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Old 04-12-2013, 08:18 AM   #7
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You are absolutely correct. In the wild or with those that live outside, dogs are not uncommonly fearful of thunderstorms but in the home, they sense their human's apprehension during the approach of and during the storm. And then a nervous dog might have a nervous spell during one and it might scare or worry us, so we get tenser than ever and the dog gets that, too. Next time they might really panic and then we really fear that next storm. Our fears feed their fears which feed our fears which feed their fears which......

Have you noticed how much more anxious people are these days with all of the video and alarming live coverage of bad weather blaring on TV's and radio and on the internet? And our dogs pick up on every bit of that from us. Now that you have found some help for them, no doubt that extra tension you used to have when a storm moved in is mostly lacking and yours babies see you are calmer and they have faced-down thunderstorms calm in the past and not freaked out thanks to their Thundershirt, they don't fear them as much either. I think they have learned how to deal with the storm thanks to that tool and will likely stay that way.

It's good to hear a good news story.
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Old 04-12-2013, 08:25 AM   #8
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I don't know what is up with your pups but it sure is much better than dealing with a scared dog isn't it? I have been through it and it is a hard thing to watch your pet go through.

With Gracie I have made an effort not to react to loud noise in front of her. She will look at me when it thunders or there is some other loud noise and I will just act like nothing happened. She looks every time and every time I just keep reading or what ever I am doing and do not say or do a thing.

So far we have no fear issues with her. They do watch us for our responses to things and if they think we are afraid then they feel they should be too.
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Old 04-12-2013, 08:33 AM   #9
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I've never used and don't have a thunder shirt but from everything everyone who has used one says, it's a great help.

I do know that how we feel can be sensed by our animals. Our Hansel doesn't like thunder either and his bed is in front of a window so when it's raining at all, I move him, and his bed, to another wall where he feels more secure!!
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Old 04-12-2013, 08:51 AM   #10
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I know many people who have frightened animals in the thunderstorms. 2 of my 4 cats hide under beds. When I first got Wallee we were entering thunder storm season. We have a covered balcony on the front of our house so we mae sure we took him out there during the thunder and played with his toys. He was stil only 14 weeks or so so was so wrapped up in the toys that he never really noticed. I am thankful now as we had a very big storm the other night and the loud thunder woke me. I looked down on the floor at Wallee an he was laying upside down sleeping away oblivious to what was going on outside. I remember my parents always doing stuff like this with my siblings and I when I was little and practiced this with my own kids and thank goodness never had any of them wake during storms nor be afraid of them.
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Old 04-12-2013, 09:05 AM   #11
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I know many people who have frightened animals in the thunderstorms. 2 of my 4 cats hide under beds. When I first got Wallee we were entering thunder storm season. We have a covered balcony on the front of our house so we mae sure we took him out there during the thunder and played with his toys. He was stil only 14 weeks or so so was so wrapped up in the toys that he never really noticed. I am thankful now as we had a very big storm the other night and the loud thunder woke me. I looked down on the floor at Wallee an he was laying upside down sleeping away oblivious to what was going on outside. I remember my parents always doing stuff like this with my siblings and I when I was little and practiced this with my own kids and thank goodness never had any of them wake during storms nor be afraid of them.
Distraction and keeping things business as usual are very useful tools for helping dogs learn early to cope with things we anticipate they might fear. As an older dog, if noise anxiety and panic develop, it can be a tougher campaign to deal with it without drugs or tools such as the Thundershirt and one has to remain very calm oneself. You really have to work to keep them fully engaged and distracted throughout the coming and ongoing event and it's a long slough to keep and rivet an older dog's attention for that long or be able to teach them to self-calm, whichever works best for the dog. Playing loud, upbeat music and dancing around with the dog, chasing it playfully, works for others - anything that keeps you and the dog otherwise engaged and of course, good old boiled chicken if they will take a treat during the storm can work wonders, too. Just like with Wallee, we can sometimes train them to keep busy and ignore the background storm and after a few times of that, they stop fearing it.
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Old 04-12-2013, 10:09 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly View Post
Distraction and keeping things business as usual are very useful tools for helping dogs learn early to cope with things we anticipate they might fear. As an older dog, if noise anxiety and panic develop, it can be a tougher campaign to deal with it without drugs or tools such as the Thundershirt and one has to remain very calm oneself. You really have to work to keep them fully engaged and distracted throughout the coming and ongoing event and it's a long slough to keep and rivet an older dog's attention for that long or be able to teach them to self-calm, whichever works best for the dog. Playing loud, upbeat music and dancing around with the dog, chasing it playfully, works for others - anything that keeps you and the dog otherwise engaged and of course, good old boiled chicken if they will take a treat during the storm can work wonders, too. Just like with Wallee, we can sometimes train them to keep busy and ignore the background storm and after a few times of that, they stop fearing it.
That's just it... I thought I was being calm, lol! I've tried all the tricks, from loud TV and music, trying to keep them occupied with play, toys and treats, to ignoring them and just going about my day. I even put us all to bed to see if that would help. Even bought storm CDs to desensitize them. I really don't have outright fear of storms, more like respect though.

I've been around animals all my life, owned dogs and cats, broke baby horses to saddle and the Starting Gate, exercised race horses, worked mainly with problem horses, and Vet tecked for years handling mostly cats and small dogs, some problem big dogs, snakes and other reptiles. And birds.

Also true I did not have any of my current pups as puppies, all came as adults.

Then Sapphire, who initially was good with storms, started to pick up on Tink's craziness and Finny's nervous fear and become a wreck herself, I felt I had to do more.

I bought one Thundershirt, being a skeptic, that would fit two dogs, just in case it didn't work with one dog, I'd have it for the other.

Tink wants to go out and attack the noise, she does this with airplanes flying by and fireworks. Finny becomes a shaking, panting, inconsolable bundle of nerves and climbs her way onto my lap, where she continues to shake and pant, or onto DH's head.

The storm this morning was bad enough that they would have started their normal storm behaviors. I looked down at my feet and there's Finny snuggled in, not even panting! Tink did bark on and off, but an alert bark, not her constant beying to get out. Sapphire, I think, picked up on their calm, and mostly just followed me around, a little more than normal, and only slightly fearful. I think she was also confused by the others' lack of reaction. Hopefully this trend will continue, if not I'll buy Sapphire her own TS.

Can I say Thundershirts also work on dogs who have never worn one? Lol!
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Old 04-12-2013, 10:26 AM   #13
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The thundershirt fixed Callie and she doesn't seem to be afraid of them anymore. We had a little thunder this morning and she sat up looked around and then went back to eating her breakfast.
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Old 04-12-2013, 12:13 PM   #14
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I think it is probably because you feel calmer (even though you thought you were calm before). I'm so happy they are dealing with the storms better.

My dogs have never really had a problem with storms but I think it is because I love relaxing to thunderstorms (it's only the ones with possible tornadoes that freak me out lol)
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Old 04-12-2013, 12:49 PM   #15
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I think our girls need one of these. They are both terrified of thunder.
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